Today is the Solemnity of the Birth of John the Baptist on this Thursday 
in the Twelfth Week of Ordinary Time. John was so great that he could afford 
to state about Jesus Christ: "I am not even fit to carry his sandals" 
(Mt 3, 11). Only great personages can say such a thing! Was he frightened? 
The Bible is quite factual with the reference to John, and does not say much 
about his inner life. But we know he had the courage to tell King Herod that
it was sinful for him to live with his brother's wife. And after being jailed 
for that courage, he had the selflessness to send his own disciples to Jesus 
to follow him. John was the forerunner of our Lord. He prepared the way for 
him. He is great because of his fidelity to the call God gave him. What are 
you ideas of greatness.
    The passage of today's first reading marks the beginning of the Second 
Song of the suffering Servant of Yahweh. It is not clear who this suffering 
Servant is. Is he a person or a collective group of faithful Israelites? In 
any case, he has a mission as a prophet. Like many great men - Jeremiah, John 
the Baptizer, Jesus, Paul - he is called by God from his mother's womb. He is 
disappointed about the success of his preaching, yet, in faith, he knows that 
his reward... with the Lord.
    The second reading Paul sees King David both as a type of Jesus and as his 
ancestor. According to Hebrew thinking, the Messiah, who would reestablish 
God's kingdom on earth, would be another David. With Paul we should see the 
Church as the "Israel of God," which grew out of the ancient "Israel of the 
flesh."
    Like the other great men of the Bible, John got his name from God. "John" 
means "God is graceful," and it indicates his call. John preached to sinners 
that God is graceful, provided that they turn to him. He preached this even 
to King Herod, who was living in sin. John had to pay for his fidelity to his 
call with suffering and violent death.
    

Today's Prayer

God our Father, you raised up John the Baptist to prepare a perfect people for Christ the Lord. Give to you Church joy in spirit and guide those who believe in you into the way of salvation and peace. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Spiritual Communion Prayer

Please join us with this prayer in asking the Lord Jesus to be with you.

Act of Spiritual Communion My Jesus, I believe that You are in the Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I long for you in my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I know You have already come. I embrace You and unite myself entirely to You; never permit me to be separated from You.

Today's Petition & Prayer Requests
Today's Homily

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